Founded in 1839 in the Canton of Geneva, Patek Philippe is among the world’s premier luxury Swiss watchmakers. The brand is revered by virtually everyone from watch naives to ardent watch enthusiasts. Patek Philippe has been continually elevating the luxury watchmaking standards over 180years of its storied legacy.
Today, for many, owning Patek Philippe watches is an achievement. While the brand puts a considerable amount of care into each watch, mass production is not possible. It is estimated that Patek Philippe has produced only about a million timepieces since its inception.
Now:
The premium quality, incredible demand, and limited production make Patek Philippe ripe for counterfeiters. Thus, the market is unfortunately inhabited by several fake Patek Philippe watches that can easily deceive any average and eager watch buyers.
However, the good news is that some tell-tale signs can help you to identify a fake Patek Philippe watch. Continue reading as we have outlined every aspect you need to verify the authenticity of a Patek Philippe.
Even before you head out to sell a Patek Philippe watch, take a look at these aspects to verify whether a timepiece you own is authentic or fake.
Each Patek Philippe collection possesses its signature features. However, we have jotted down the general features that will help you spot a fake Patek Philippe watch.
Patek Philippe has always been very particular and precise on the types of materials they use for making its watches. Most of the brand’s watches are crafted gold and platinum, although stainless steel models are also available. However, what you need to keep in mind is that –
Patek Philippe only employs the highest quality of each metal. They leave no room for deformities.
Counterfeiters typically provide more attention to the appearance than the overall watch’s quality. The quality of metals used for fake Patek watches may be good but won’t meet a genuine Patek Philippe’s quality standards.
So if the metal shows even the tiniest imperfections, the watch is probably a fake one. Patek Philippe is committed to such quality control standards that no timepiece can leave the factory with any signs of imperfections.
Genuine and authenticated Patek Philippe watch cases are made of 18ct gold, platinum or stainless steel. Moreover, Patek watches generally feature solid case-backs without any engravings or adornments (some limited edition models are the exceptions).
Another minor but significant detail that is often overlooked is the serial number’s placement.
Keep in mind that Patek Philippe does not inscribe its watches’ serial number on the case back’s outer side.
So turn over the Patek Philippe watch and check if it has any numbers printed on the case-back. If it has, then you know that you are dealing with a fake watch.
At a glance, you may not identify a fake Patek Philippe watch looking at its dial as it appears pretty like the genuine one. But there are minor tell-tale details to spot the fake. Let’s begin with the font.
On the contrary, counterfeit Patek watches will not flaunt the same font or try to use a bigger size, exhibiting the brand name more prominently.
Moreover, genuine Patek Philippe watches, besides skeletonised models, do not sport visible balance wheels or tourbillon on the dial. Now:
However, make sure to check the crown. On genuine Patek Philippe watches, the crown is etched to perfection. This detail is something you will need to check using a magnifying lens.
If you find no detail on the crown or the design looks spotty, the watch is not genuine.
Another aspect that you should consider is the heft or weight. While finding out how to verify the authenticity of a Patek Philippe watch, it is essential to consider that the brand uses only high-quality materials. And they add a solid weight to the timepieces.
If the timepiece you are considering now feels lighter or seems to weigh similar to an average watch available at discount shops, it is not an authenticate Patek Philippe.
Genuine Patek Philippe bracelets are also made of platinum and 18ct gold. However, the straps are made of leather or a distinctive composite material. What is significant for you to note is that the brand inscribes the model number specific to a watch’s series on the bracelets.
Remember that counterfeit watches are today more precisely made, and sometimes it becomes challenging for naives to tell if a Patek Philippe watch is authentic. Thus, if you doubt a watch’s authenticity, it is better to pass on the deal.
Many professional and trusted dealers buy and sell genuine Patek Philippe watches like The Luxury Hut. Contact us at 0207 242 9160 for any queries you may have regarding buying and selling pre-owned Patek Philippe watches.
Yes, you hear it right. Patek Philippe stopped producing the iconic Nautilus Reference 5711.
The brand has discontinued not only one of its most iconic models but also one of the world’s most popular and coveted watches. This news is certainly not that watch enthusiasts across the globe anticipated at the start of 2021.
The irony is that one of the most talked-about timepieces of 2021 is not a brand-new launch but, instead, discontinuation.
The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 is much more than a mere timekeeper. And the brand ceased its production when virtually all watch collectors today want to buy the watch for vast gobs of money.
However, the leading watchmaker, Patek Philippe, must have little logic to stop producing a globally popular item. Perhaps it is a smart move, and one might need to do something like this at a time.
Continue reading to find out what’s the actual logic behind such a surprising move by Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe has been producing the Nautilus Reference 5711 for about 43years. However, its demand escalated a few years ago. As per reports in 2019, the waiting list for this particular model extended for eight years. Now:
While the brand discontinued the Nautilus 5711, the waitlist will extend forever. But the interesting fact is that Patek Philippe has stopped producing the timepiece back in 2019. They remained tight-lipped.
Of course, Patek’s enthusiasts and collectors were upset about it, and the same was the retailers. Lots of people have been eagerly waiting to buy and sell this watch. And now, the only way to get this model would be to dive into the second hand market and purchase it for staggering gobs of money.
So the question is – why Patek Philippe discontinued its most popular and sought-after creation?
Patek Philippe’s President, Thierry Stern, speaking to the Times, has said –
“We are doing this for our clients who already own a Patek Philippe and to protect our brand from becoming too commercial.”
“I can continue to make this fantastic product or sell 10 times more of them. But I am not working for numbers. I am protecting the company for the future, for my children.”
Stern is well-aware that discontinuing the iconic Nautilus 5711 will upset its global fans and collectors. However, as Stern stated, he followed a lesson that his father taught him, and today he is passing down the same to his children.
“When you have a fantastic brand like Patek, you have to protect the brand and not just one product,” he said.
Well, this is a brilliant move or rather a smart decision for high-end timepieces. But it works well not only for watches but also with other top-selling things in the world.
The Nautilus Reference 5711 in stainless steel and a vibrant blue dial became so famous that its significance changed. Depending on the person, the watch represented many things. While some blazed it as a sign of wealth, others considered it the epitome of modern watch design.
Moreover, the Nautilus Reference 5711 was a unique steel sports timepiece from a brand more recognised for dress watches for many people. The watch was enjoying a fascinating demand and price surge. And the waitlist also extended before Patek announced its discontinuation.
The Nautilus 5711 will have a successor or successors. However, Reference 5711 is a significant part of Patek Philippe’s past but not its future.
Nonetheless, if you are looking to sell a Patek Philippe watch for the best price in London, fill up our online form or call on 0207 242 9160 for a free competitive quote.
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